Archive for January, 2013

I woke with a massive headache, so I stayed in bed – a long time. All the other occupants of the house went merrily on their ways to help a friend move and to help a neighbor with firewood. These people that I live with are such good people! Anyway, I eventually convinced myself that getting up and drinking a hot cup of coffee would dispel the pain raging in my head.
I started the coffee, poured cream into my coffee mug, and noticed three little notes left on the counter by one of those good people that I live with. Apparently he needed help. So while my healing tonic steeped, I tackled a little paperwork. When I finished with that, I went back through the kitchen and noticed some dirty dishes, so I put them in the dishwasher before tackling item number two on the little note left for me. When that was finished, I anticipated my hot coffee, the hopeful cure to the war inside my head. But where was my coffee mug with the creamer in it? I looked everywhere. Then I recalled the “milk” I poured out of a cup that I presumed one of those good people had left before going about their good deeds. Aaauuuggg! I poured my creamer right down the drain! That means that I would only get one cup of coffee because there had been only enough cream for two cups. I can only hope one of those good people can bring home some creamer as I see that it will be at least a two cup morning.
What I learned: Coffee first, always put coffee first!

For an introvert, preparing to have people over can be a bit stressful. The reason: introverts have a great need for space and time alone. When you know other people will be in your space and you know you won’t be able to escape, anxiety levels creep up. But this is only in the planning stages for me because once they are here, I ALWAYS have a great time. I do love having people over. So I am thankful for an extroverted husband who pushes when I try to put on the breaks.

I now have a daughter who can push too. Last night we had 9 of her classmates over. They had a great time, and I truly had a great time and am thankful that they came. So, now I am thankful for a daughter who pushes.

They ate.

They watched this: While they were watching the movie, I was watching and listening to them. Teenagers are not quiet during movies. They talk, shush each other, laugh, squeal, fix each others hair. They are hilarious, goofy, silly, and just overflowing with life.

Yes, I think we can do this again. My daughter has already asked for friends over again. She doesn’t ever get enough, and that’s a good thing. Another great thing is that I really like all these kids – I mean teenagers, young people, youths… They are wonderful!

I saw a funny saying a couple of times on the internet that said something like, “We never really grow up. We just learn how to act in public.” I find there is much truth in that. I think a lot of my mother when she was my age and wonder how she seemed so much more grown up than I do now. I now look at older people and believe that there is a kid inside, but they are just acting all grown up. I feel all my insecurities and still live in a dream world too much of the time and still feel the same about Christmas as I did when I was ten years old. So I imagine my mother and maybe my grandmothers and teachers felt the same, but they knew “how to act in public.” My kids probably think that I am all grown up, but I won’t disillusion them at this point. 🙂

I thought of this saying at breakfast one morning when I found myself a child again.

When I was little, I loved nothing more than biscuits and honey. My daddy called me Honey Bunny. 🙂

Side note: One of those dreams that I like to muse on is one day having a farm with honey bees and rabbits. And it’s name – what else but Honey Bunny Farm. That’s probably a bit too cutesy for Daniel, but that’s okay for dreams.

Back to the story: When my mother fixed biscuits, I would grab a couple, pour honey on my plate and know that this was a bit of heaven. When I finished my biscuits but still had honey on my plate, I would get another biscuit so as not to waste the precious nectar. Then I would have to get more honey to finish the biscuit. This could go on until I felt sick.

This was delightful except for one thing – I was a messy child and honey is sticky! I would get sticky honey in my hair, on my hands and who knows where else. Honey was always in my hair before I remembered the stickiness of my favorite food. I wasn’t overly concerned with this problem, obviously. How could I be, I was a child and honey was gold.

My childhood sticky messes came back to me this one morning as I ate breakfast. I toasted a bagel and spread coconut oil over it, and then poured warm honey on top. I love the taste of honey and coconut together! As I ate, I noticed the side of my hand had honey on it, then honey dripped onto my jeans. I was becoming uncomfortable with the state of myself. Then my chin felt sticky and my coffee cup was honey-up too. “Have I not grown up yet?” I wondered. Apparently not. So I laughed, cleaned up my mess, and remembered the sweetness of childhood with all its stickiness.

My sweet husband bought me a lemon tree for Valentine’s Day last year. After waiting a few weeks, we found that there was a misunderstanding with the company, and no lemon tree was on its way. After clearing up the matter, we waited again. Finally a box arrived, and I ripped it open; only to find a clementine tree, not a lemon tree. A clementine tree is very nice and all, but I really wanted a lemon tree. Again, I called the company, and they said they would correct the error and send a lemon tree. After three weeks and no lemon tree, I called again. “Oh, we are out of lemon trees. We’ll send you one as soon as they come in.” Grrrrr!

But at long last a lemon tree found its way to our house. And soon we had blossoms! And the bees did their work!

All summer we watched these green little fruit get larger and larger.

We were beginning to think we had a lime tree because they stayed green for such a long time, but not long ago they started changing colors.

Daniel asked several times, “What are you going to do with your lemons?” To be honest, I figured when I cut them open they would be dry or rotten or flavorless, so I just let them hang on the tree for a little while longer. Then, by accident I bumped one and it broke off and rolled onto the ground. I figured that meant it was time to cut the lemons opened and see what was inside.

I was pleasantly surprised to find lots of flavorful juice, much more than I imagined!

Terrifically exciting and enough juice from the two lemons to make a pie! One of my favorite pies!

I have great hopes for the three little green lemons that are hanging on the tree right now!